Audio status communication from an embedded device

ABSTRACT

An embedded device configured to provide an audio status output is disclosed. The embedded device includes a processor, an input button in electronic communication with the processor and a speaker in electronic communication with the processor for outputting an audio output. Memory is used for storing data. An audio output generator is stored in the memory and operates to generate the audio status output. The audio generator receives a generate audio command initiated by a user through use of the input button. The generator then operates to convert the status data to audio output data through use of an audio generation table. The audio output data includes multiple distinct audio signals that are machine-decipherable and that correspond to individual data elements of the status data. The audio output data is provided to the speaker such that the audio output based on the audio output data is generated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/092,415 filed Mar. 5, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,697,466.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to embedded devices, and is moreparticularly directed toward systems and methods for providing audiostatus communications from an embedded device.

BACKGROUND

Computer and communication technologies continue to advance at a rapidpace. Indeed, computer and communication technologies are involved inmany aspects of a person's day. For example, many devices being usedtoday by consumers have a small computer inside of the device. Thesesmall computers come in varying sizes and degrees of sophistication.These small computers include everything from one microcontroller to afully-functional complete computer system. For example, these smallcomputers may be a one-chip computer, such as a microcontroller, aone-board type of computer, such as a controller, a typical desktopcomputer, such as an IBM-PC compatible, etc.

Computers typically have one or more processors at the heart of thecomputer. The processor(s) usually are interconnected to differentexternal inputs and outputs and function to manage the particularcomputer or device. For example, a processor in a thermostat may beconnected to buttons used to select the temperature setting, to thefurnace or air conditioner to change the temperature, and to temperaturesensors to read and display the current temperature on a display.

Many appliances, devices, etc., include one or more small computers. Forexample, thermostats, furnaces, air conditioning systems, refrigerators,telephones, typewriters, automobiles, vending machines, and manydifferent types of industrial equipment now typically have smallcomputers, or processors, inside of them. Computer software runs theprocessors of these computers and instructs the processors how to carryout certain tasks. For example, the computer software running on athermostat may cause an air conditioner to stop running when aparticular temperature is reached or may cause a heater to turn on whenneeded.

These types of small computers that are a part of a device, appliance,tool, etc., are often referred to as embedded systems. The term“embedded system” usually refers to computer hardware and software thatis part of a larger system. Embedded systems may not have typical inputand output devices such as a keyboard, mouse, and/or monitor. Usually,at the heart of each embedded system is one or more processor(s).

As stated, embedded systems may be used to monitor or control manydifferent systems, resources, products, etc. Sometimes embedded systemsdo not provide sufficient and/or desirable means for generating feedbackwhich can make it difficult to diagnose problems, to report statusinformation, to verify modifications made, etc. Benefits may be realizedif embedded systems were enhanced in their ability to provide outputs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embedded device configured to provide an audio status output isdisclosed. The embedded device includes a processor, an input button inelectronic communication with the processor and a speaker in electroniccommunication with the processor for outputting an audio output. Memoryis used for storing data. An audio output generator is stored in thememory and operates to generate the audio status output.

The audio generator receives a generate audio command initiated by auser through use of the input button. The generator then operates toconvert status data to audio output data through use of an audiogeneration table. The audio output data includes multiple distinct audiosignals that are machine-decipherable and that correspond to individualdata elements of the status data. The audio output data is provided to aspeaker such that the audio output based on the audio output data isgenerated.

In an embodiment disclosed herein, the processor may be amicrocontroller. As a result, an embodiment of the embedded device maybe a microcontroller-based device. Embedded devices may include manyother types of devices including, but not limited to, consumerelectronics devices such as a television, DVD player, etc.

The audio output may be embodied in various forms to present audibleinformation. For example, the audio output may comprise DTMF tones.

The status data includes information that may be relevant to the device,such as inputs, outputs, parameters, sensor readings, etc. The statusdata may include dynamic device-specific input/output data. In addition,the status data may include state data. In certain embodiments, thestatus data may be comprised of individual data elements. In thisembodiment, the audio generation table may include an audio translationfor each of the individual data elements.

A system is also disclosed for providing an audio status outputdescribing an embedded device to an audio status collector over acommunication network. The system includes an embedded device configuredto generate the audio status output and an audio status collector. Theaudio status collector includes an audio decoder for decoding the audiooutput. A communications module is used by the audio status collectorfor connecting to and listening on the communication network. An audiodecoding table is used by the audio decoder in decoding the audiooutput.

Embodiments of the system may use various kinds of communicationnetworks. Possible communication networks include, but are not limitedto, telephone networks, cellular telephone networks and radio networks.

A method is disclosed for providing an audio status output describing anembedded device to an audio status collector over a communicationnetwork. An embedded device configured to generate the audio statusoutput is provided. The embedded device processes inputs to providestatus data that describes operation of the embedded device. A userinitiates a generate audio command through use of an input button on theembedded device. The status data is converted to audio output datathrough use of an audio generation table. The audio output data includesa plurality of distinct audio signals that are machine-decipherable andthat correspond to individual data elements of the status data. Theaudio output data is provided to a speaker of the embedded device suchthat the audio output based on the audio output data is generated. Theaudio output is then communicated to an audio status collector via thecommunication network. An audio decoder of the audio status collectordecodes the audio output through use of an audio decoding table toobtain the status data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present embodiments will become more fully apparent from thefollowing description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict onlytypical embodiments and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting ofthe invention's scope, the embodiments will be described with additionalspecificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system illustrating theuse of an embedded device providing audio status to an audio statuscollector;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating hardware components of anembodiment of an embedded device providing audio status;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating hardware components of anotherembodiment of an embedded device providing audio status;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating software components of anembodiment of an embedded device providing audio status;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating hardware components of anembodiment of an audio status collector;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating software components of anembodiment of an audio status collector; and

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method for providing an audio statusoutput from an embedded device to an audio status collector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments asgenerally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, could bearranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations.Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of thesystem and method of the present invention, as represented in theFigures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, asclaimed, but is merely representative of the embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system 20 illustratingthe use of an embedded device 26 that provides audio status output to anaudio status collector 24 through a communication network 22. The audiostatus collector 24 receives status reports in the form of audio outputfrom the embedded device 26.

The communication network 22 is a network capable of transmitting soundfrom one point to another. Typically the communication network 22 is atelephone network, such as the public switched telephone network, acellular telephone network, a radio network, etc. The embedded devicewith audio status 26 generates sound that is transmitted via thecommunication network 22 to the audio status collector 24. An embodimentof the embedded device with audio status 26 may be any kind of embeddedelectronic device that has been configured to generate an audio statusas disclosed herein.

An embodiment of the audio status collector 24 may be a computerconfigured to listen for the audio generated by the embedded device 26and also configured to decode the audio. The audio status collector 24is configured to listen for the audio through use of the communicationnetwork 22. Further details of the audio status collector are discussedbelow.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating hardware components of anembodiment of an embedded device with audio status 26. The embeddeddevice 26 is any device, appliance, machine, tool, or the like that iscapable of receiving and/or sending electronic signals or messages orthat may be enabled to receive and/or send electronic signals and thathas the ability to generate an audio status output, as described herein.The term “electronic signal” as used herein broadly refers to anyelectrical signal, electronic signal, electromagnetic signal, wirelesssignal or other similar signal. Examples of embedded devices 26 includea vending machine, a telephone, a door lock, a temperature sensor, amotor, a switch, a light, a printer, a fax machine, a refrigerator, ahealth monitor, an elevator/escalator, a copier, a scanner,manufacturing equipment, industrial equipment, computer equipment andperipherals, security systems, monitoring equipment, and the like. Asshown, many different kinds of embedded devices may be configured toprovide an audio status.

An embodiment of an embedded device 26 includes a processor 278 andmemory 280. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the various typesof processors and memory that can be used. For example, an embodiment ofan embedded device 26 may include a single-board computer that includesthe processor 278 and memory 280. Such single-board computers arecommercially available. Alternatively, the embedded device 26 mayinclude a microcontroller as the processor 278. In addition, embodimentsof the embedded device 26 may include flash memory.

The embedded device 26 may also include communications ports 282. Thecommunications ports 282 enable communication with other electronicdevices. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the various types ofcommunication ports 282 that can be used with the embodiments herein.

A communications module 284 is included in the embedded device 26 forcommunications through the communication network 22. Communicationmodules 284 that are capable of sending and receiving communicationsthrough the communication network 22 are commercially available.

The embodiment of FIG. 2 also includes inputs 286 that allow a user toenter user input to the embedded device 26. The inputs 286 may be a setof buttons, switches, sensors, etc. Those skilled in the art willappreciate the various kinds of inputs 286 that can be used for a userto enter user input. Through the inputs 286 the user causes an audiostatus output to be generated by the embedded device 26. Of course, theinputs 286 may be used for other reasons, such as allowing a user tonavigate through menus, causing messages or data to be displayed,entering commands, etc. Other examples of possible inputs 286 include atouch screen, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, etc.

An embodiment of an embedded device 26 may also include outputs 288 topresent information to the user. For example, messages or informationmay be displayed to the user on an output device 288, such as a display(not shown). A typical display that may be used is an LCD. Other outputdevices may also be used. For example, a printer may also be used toprint information for the user.

The embedded device 26 includes a sound component 289. The soundcomponent 289 is used to generate audio status output to be heard anddecoded by the audio status collector 24. The sound component 289 maygenerate different tones and/or different frequencies in order toproduce an audio status output. To provide the audio status output tothe audio status collector 24, the user may simply place the microphoneportion of the telephone (not shown) near the sound component 289. Theembedded device 26 may then produce various sounds that embody a statusreport regarding the embedded device 26. The audio status collector 24may use computer technology to recognize the tones, the tone sequence,frequencies, etc., to receive and decode the audio status output. As aresult, the audio status collector 24 may use computer technology toautomate its processing of audio status output reports.

The sound component 289 may be used to generate dual-tone multifrequency(“DTMF”) audio signals. There are many commercially available hardwareand/or software packages available for interpreting DTMF signals. As aresult, the audio status collector 24 may simply use commerciallyavailable components to interpret the DTMF tones generated by theembedded device 26. In operation, a user may make a telephone call tothe audio status collector 24 to provide an audio status report. Once soinstructed, the user may hold the microphone portion of the telephonenext to the embedded device 26 and simply press a button (not shown) ofthe inputs 286 to cause an audio status output to be generated. From theaudio generated the audio status collector 24 may receive and decode theaudio status output.

Many commercially available audio or sound components 289 may be used asthe sound component 289 of the embedded device 26. For example, in theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the sound component 289 may be aspeaker 389 with supporting speaker components 388 (e.g., a drivingcircuit). The speaker components 388 may also be a sound card with aspeaker jack to which a speaker 389 may be attached. Further, thespeaker component 388 and speaker 389 may be embodied in an integratedcircuit capable of producing sound. Those skilled in the art willappreciate the commercially available speakers and sound components thatmay be utilized with the embedded device 326 to produce sound.

The embodiment of the embedded device 326 shown in FIG. 3 includes amicrocontroller 378 as the processor. Many types of embedded devices 326currently available include a microcontroller 378 for controlling theembedded device 326. Such embedded devices 326 may be referred to asmicrocontroller-based devices. Buttons 386 may be used by a user toenter user input. The embedded device 326 of FIG. 3 also illustrates thevarious modifications that may be made to an embedded device 26 withoutdetracting from the scope of the inventive principles herein.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating software components of anembodiment of an embedded device 26. An audio output generator 402generates the audio output data 404 that is output through the soundcomponent 289 or speaker 389. The audio output generator 402 generatesaudio output data 404 that serves as an audible status report of theembedded device 26. As a result, the audio output generator 402translates status data 406 that is not in the form of an audio signal oraudio data into the audio output data 404.

The status data 406 includes data that is to be reported via the audiostatus output. The status data 406 may include state information (whatstate or states the embedded device 26 is in), transaction records,switch states, sensor readings, operational parameters, etc. In certainembodiments of the embedded device 26, the audio output generator 402may create the status data 406 by accessing the necessary input/output(I/O) data 408 to extract the information needed to write out the statusdata 406. The I/O data 408 typically includes parameters and data thatare dynamic.

An identification 410 may be stored on the embedded device 26 toidentify the particular product, to identify the user of the product,etc. Such identification 410 may be useful for billing purposes,support, analysis, etc. The audio output generator 402 may access theidentification 410 and provide a portion of the status data 406 thatincludes the identification 410.

The audio output generator 402 translates status data 406 into the audiooutput data 404 through use of an audio generation table 412. The audiogeneration table 412 serves as a lookup table. In the embedded device 26in FIG. 4, the status data 406 is comprised of data elements (e.g.,numbers, values, letters, digits, etc.) and each data element has anaudio data equivalent whereby the status data 406 may be translated intoaudio output data 404. For example, if the status data 406 were in theform of a number, the audio generation table 412 may include translationvalues, such as, for example, 0=tone A, 1=tone B, 2=tone C, etc. Eachdigit may be taken separately and translated into an audio signal. Theaudio signals taken together comprise the audio output data 404. Ofcourse, multiple tones may be used, frequencies may be used, pulse tonesmay be used, etc. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the manydifferent ways in which the status data 406 may be converted into audiooutput data 404 through use of an audio generation table 412.

TABLE 1 Decimal Value Audio Signal 0 Tone A 1 Tone B 2 Tone C 3 Tone D 4Tone E 5 Tone F 6 Tone G 7 Tone H 8 Tone I 9 Tone J

An example of audio output data 404 generation will be described. Table1 illustrates one possible audio generation table 412. As shown in Table1, the table includes a translation table for decimal values from 0 to9. For this example, the status data 406 is treated as a decimal number.For the sake of clarity and simplicity, assume that the status data 406is the number 9792. Using the sample audio generation table 412, thisnumber would translate into Tone J—Tone H—Tone J—Tone C. An audiogeneration table 412 may be used for binary values, for hexadecimalvalues, for ASCII values, etc. In addition, the values to be translatedmay translate into frequencies, multiple tones, pulses, etc. Table 2,below, illustrates a further example of a possible audio generationtable 412.

TABLE 2 Hexadecimal Value Audio Signal 0 Frequency A 1 Frequency B 2Frequency C 3 Frequency D 4 Frequency E 5 Frequency F 6 Frequency G 7Frequency H 8 Frequency I 9 Frequency J A Frequency K B Frequency L CFrequency M D Frequency N E Frequency O F Frequency P

As shown in Table 2, the table includes a translation table forhexadecimal values from 0 to F. For this example, the status data 406 istreated as a hexadecimal number. For the sake of clarity and simplicity,assume that the status data 406 is the hexadecimal number FF93. Usingthe sample audio generation table 412, this number may translate intoFrequency P—Frequency P—Frequency J—Frequency D. In this example, theaudio output generator 402 would access the status data 406 of FF93 and,using the audio generation table 412, would translate this into an audiooutput 404 that would produce Frequency P—Frequency P—FrequencyJ—Frequency D. When a user entered the input to generate the audiostatus, the audio generated would be Frequency P—Frequency P—FrequencyJ—Frequency D. This audio output would be heard and decoded by the audiostatus collector 24.

Depending on the size of the status data 406 and the particularimplementation, the status data 406 may be broken up into smallercomponents before it is translated into audio output data 404. Forexample, the entire status data 406 may be used to identify a particularaudio signal to assign to the audio output data 404. More commonly thestatus data 406 may be broken up into smaller components or smaller dataelements where each smaller component's value corresponds to an audiosignal. The examples shown in Tables 1 and 2 are examples where thestatus data 406 is broken up into individual data elements and thentranslated into individual audio signals that are then output togetherin a sequential order. The plurality of individual audio signals may beoutput simultaneously if the audio status collector 24 has the abilityto decode the audio status when output in this fashion.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of hardware components that may be used in anembodiment of an audio status collector 24. An embodiment of the audiostatus collector 24 may be a computer configured to listen for the audiogenerated by the embedded device 26 and also configured to decode theaudio. The audio status collector 24 is configured to listen for theaudio through use of the communication network 22.

As stated, a computer may be used to implement the audio statuscollector 24. Many different types of computer systems may be used toimplement the audio status collector 24. The diagram of FIG. 5illustrates typical components of a computer system including aprocessor 567, memory 569, a storage device 571, input devices 573 andoutput devices 575. One or more communication ports 577 may also beincluded in the audio status collector 24 computer. It will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that many more components may beincluded in the computer. For example, various input devices 573 may beincluded, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a touchscreen, etc.In addition, various output devices may be included such as a monitor,speakers, a printer, etc. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat many additional components may be added to the audio statuscollector 24 without detracting from the functionality to serve as anaudio status collector 24.

The communications module 568 is used to communicate with the embeddeddevice 26. The communications module 568 operates to connect to thecommunication network 22 and to listen for and process the audiogenerated by the embedded device 26. Various commercially availableproducts exist that may be used with the audio status collector 24. Forexample, a telephone card (not shown) configured to decode DTMF tonesmay be used. In addition, a telephone card in combination with audioprocessing software (not shown) may be used. By way of further example,a simple microphone (not shown) may be used to detect the audio outputand audio processing software (not shown) may be used to decode theaudio output from the embedded device 26.

FIG. 6 illustrates components of an embodiment of an audio statuscollector 24 that may be implemented through software and/or stored dataon the storage 571 or memory 569 of the audio status collector 24. Anaudio decoder 602 handles receiving and decoding the audio output 404from the communication network 22. As discussed above, there are manycommercially available products that may be used to listen for anddecode the audio output 404.

The audio decoder 602 translates the audio output 404 back into statusdata 406 using an audio decoding table 612. The audio decoding table 612may be similar to the audio generation table 412 to enable the audiodecoder 602 to look up each audio output component received andtranslate it into its equivalent piece of data to thereby rebuild thestatus data 406.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method for providing an audio statusoutput from an embedded device. A user initiates 702 a generate audiocommand through use of an input or inputs on the embedded device 26. Theaudio output generator 402 then accesses 704 the status data 406. Usingthe audio generation table 412 and the status data 406, the audio outputgenerator 402 generates 706 audio output data 404. The audio outputgenerator 402 then outputs 708 the audio output data 404 to the speakerdriving components 388. Sound based on the audio output data 404 is thenoutput 710 by the speaker 389. After the embedded device 26 has finishedoutputting the audio output data 404, it returns 712 to its normaloperating state.

Embodiments disclosed herein may be used in a variety of contexts. Thefollowing examples of uses for the embodiments disclosed herein are onlymeant as illustrative and the scope of the invention claimed below isnot limited to these exemplary embodiments. In one embodiment, atelevision may be configured as an embedded device with audio status toassist maintenance and support of the television. When the user callsthe television manufacturer for support, the user may be asked to simplypress a button that causes an audio status output and to hold thetelephone up to the television speaker. The television manufacturer mayuse an audio status collector 24 to decode the audio status output andmake certain determinations about the television's status. Similarly,many other consumer electronic devices may be configured as embeddeddevices 26 with audio status, such as compact disc players, digitalvideo disc players, video cameras, video cassette recorders, radioreceivers, tape decks, etc. Furthermore, other electronic systems may beconfigured as disclosed herein, including thermostats, furnaces, airconditioning systems, refrigerators, telephones, typewriters,automobiles, vending machines, etc.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative,and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. An embedded device configured to provide an audio status output, theembedded device comprising: a processor; an input button in electroniccommunication with the processor; a speaker in electronic communicationwith the processor for outputting an audio output; memory in electroniccommunication with the processor for storing data; a user identificationfor identifying the user of the embedded device, wherein the useridentification is stored in the memory, and wherein the useridentification is used for billing purposes; and an audio outputgenerator stored in the memory, the audio output generator comprisinginstructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to:receive a generate audio command initiated by a user through use of theinput button in electronic communication with the processor; accessstatus data stored in the memory; access the user identification storedin the memory; include the user identification with the status data;convert the status data and the included user identification to audiooutput data, the audio output data comprising a plurality of distinctaudio signals that are machine-decipherable and that corresponds toindividual data elements of the user identification and the status data;and provide the audio output data to the speaker such that the audiooutput based on the audio output data is generated, wherein the audiooutput comprises DTMF tones.
 2. The embedded device as defined in claim1, wherein the embedded device is a microcontroller-based device.
 3. Theembedded device as defined in claim 1, wherein the status data includesdynamic device-specific input/output data.
 4. The embedded device asdefined in claim 1, wherein the status data includes state data.
 5. Theembedded device as defined in claim 1, wherein the status data iscomprised of individual data elements.
 6. The embedded device as definedin claim 1, wherein the embedded device is a television.
 7. The embeddeddevice as defined in claim 1, wherein the embedded device is a consumerelectronics device.
 8. A system for providing an audio status outputdescribing an embedded device to an audio status collector over acommunication network, the system comprising: an embedded deviceconfigured to generate the audio status output comprising: a processor;an input button in electronic communication with the processor; aspeaker in electronic communication with the processor for outputting anaudio output; memory in electronic communication with the processor forstoring data; a user identification for identifying the user of theembedded device, wherein the user identification is stored in thememory, and wherein the user identification is used for billingpurposes; and an audio output generator stored in the memory, the audiooutput generator comprising instructions stored in the memory, theinstructions being executable to: receive a generate audio commandinitiated by a user through use of the input button in electroniccommunication with the processor; access status data stored in thememory; access the user identification stored in the memory; include theuser identification with the status data; convert the status data andthe included user identification to audio output data, the audio outputdata comprising a plurality of distinct audio signals that aremachine-decipherable and that corresponds to individual data elements ofthe user identification and the status data; and provide the audiooutput data to the speaker such that the audio output based on the audiooutput data is generated, wherein the audio output comprises DTMF tones;and an audio status collector comprising: an audio decoder for decodingthe audio output; a communications module for connecting to andlistening on the communication network, the communications module inelectronic communication with the audio decoder; and an audio decodingtable for use by the audio decoder in decoding the audio output, wherebythe audio decoder hears the audio output and decodes the audio output toobtain the user identification and the status data.
 9. The system asdefined in claim 8, wherein the embedded device is amicrocontroller-based device.
 10. The system as defined in claim 8,wherein the status data includes dynamic device-specific input/outputdata.
 11. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the status dataincludes state data.
 12. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein thestatus data is comprised of individual data elements.
 13. A method forproviding an audio status output describing an embedded device to anaudio status collector over a communication network, the methodcomprising: providing an embedded device configured to generate theaudio status output; processing inputs of the embedded device to providestatus data that describes operation of the embedded device; receiving agenerate audio command initiated by a user through use of an inputbutton of the embedded device in electronic communication with aprocessor of the embedded device; accessing the status data stored inmemory of the embedded device; accessing a user identification stored inmemory of the embedded device that identifies the user of the embeddeddevice, wherein the user identification is used for billing purposes;including the user identification with the status data; converting thestatus data and the included user identification to audio output data,the audio output data comprising a plurality of distinct audio signalsthat are machine-decipherable and that correspond to individual dataelements of the user identification and the status data; and providingthe audio output data to a speaker of the embedded device such that theaudio output based on the audio output data is generated, wherein theaudio output comprises DTMF tones; communicating the audio output to anaudio status collector via the communication network; and decoding theaudio output by an audio decoder of the audio status collector throughuse of an audio decoding table to obtain the user identification and thestatus data.
 14. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the embeddeddevice is a television.
 15. The method as defined in claim 13, whereinthe embedded device is a consumer electronics device.
 16. The method asdefined in claim 13, wherein the communication network is a telephonenetwork.
 17. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein thecommunication network is a cellular telephone network.
 18. The method asdefined in claim 13, wherein the communication network is a radionetwork.